JK Guv expresses concern over death of security personnel

Over 50 security personnel lost their lives in terror-related incidents last year as against 15 such casualties in 2012, Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra today said, while expressing concern over "likelihood" that attempt will be made to disrupt the two elections due this year.
He also said that there were 244 ceasefire violations on the LoC last year.
However, the Governor said that terrorist related incidents declined by around 23 per cent during 2013 over the previous year.
"It is a matter of concern that as many as 53 security forces personnel were killed in 2013 against 15 such casualties in 2012," Vohra said in joint session of the state legislature today.

The budget session of JK Assembly started here today.
Taking a serious view of such attacks, all possible corrective measures are being put in place, the Governor said.

While paying homage to all the officers and men who laid down their lives for protecting the territorial integrity of the country, he said, "We shall need to keep in mind the increasing desperation of the militants and their sponsors from across and the likelihood that every possible attempt would be made to disrupt the two elections which shall be conducted this year".
"Our security forces shall have to continue their strict vigil along the borders," he said.

Elaborating further on the situation, he said, "Over the past few years, there has been a decline in incidents of terrorist violence and a perceptible improvement in the internal security environment".
"During 2013, terrorist related incidents declined by around 23 per cent over the previous year".
On ceasefire violation, he said, "there were 244 ceasefire violations on the LoC and the International Border, which marked a large increase over the past year".
The state police is playing an increasingly important role in maintaining law and order and undertaking counter insurgency operations and it is hoped that in the coming time it shall be in a position to deal with most internal security challenges on its own, he said.

"The security forces have been highly sensitised to ensure against causing any collateral damages or violation of human rights while carrying out counter militancy operations.
"New Standard Operating Procedures have been adopted and enforced as the operational guidelines for security forces to minimise the collateral damages during counter insurgency operations," he said.